Image Credit: Prince George Cougars

By Victor Kaisar

Cougars 6 Winterhawks 1

Cougars begin 2025-26 WHL season with big win over Winterhawks

Sep 20, 2025 | 10:04 AM

PRINCE GEORGE — The Prince George Cougars enacted a measure of revenge against the Portland Winterhawks in the first meeting between these two teams since last season’s Game 7.

Friday (Sept. 19) night at the CN Centre, the Cougars knocked off the Winterhawks 6-1 in their 2025-26 WHL home and season opener.

The Cougars struck inside the opening 90 seconds one of three goals they scored in the first period. They also held the Winterhawks to six shots in the period and 20 on the night.

Brock Souch scored his first WHL goal 1:17 into the game to put Prince George up 1-0, before Kayden Lemire and Kooper Gizowski scored 28 seconds apart at 15:01 and 15:29 to put the Cougars up 3-1 after 20 minutes of action.

Third period goals from Riley Ashe – his first in the WHL – and a pair from Jett Lajoie put the game to bed as the Cougars fired 25 shots on Ondrej Štěbeták. The Czech goaltender made 19 saves in a losing effort.

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Cougars Ukrainian netminder Alexander Levshyn made 19 saves on 20 shots in his WHL debut. The lone goal he allowed was to veteran Winterhawks forward Ryan Miller, who made it 1-1 midway through the first period.

The two teams will meet once again at CN Centre Saturday (Sept. 20) night, with the puck drop set for 6:00 p.m.